Explorer hopefuls push themselves to their limits

Monday

Feb 18, 2008 at 4:45 PMFeb 18, 2008 at 4:48 PM

By JONATHAN HEARN

After receiving 30 applications for 2008 membership in the Hesperia Fire Explorer Post 152, Explorer leadership evaluated the applications and sent out 19 invitations to participate in an oral interview, written test, and physical agility test on Saturday, Jan. 26.

Fourteen candidates arrived bright and early in business dress at Fire Station 304, where current Explorers, led by acting chief Jonathan Hearn, were already setting up interview panels and the day's five-point physical agility course. After an initial welcome by Post Advisor Brian Headley, the candidates were given 20 minutes to complete an 11-question quiz that tested common sense and basic knowledge of firefighting.

With their tests turned in, applicants were ushered to interview panels where current Explorers asked them about ethics, dedication, and why they wanted to be part of the Post. After the peer interview, candidates changed into athletic wear and took the physical agility portion of the testing. After walking through the course once with a test proctor, candidates began their test by donning a "wildland jacket" and walking for an eighth mile with a 50-pound "wildland hosepack."

Next, they used a rope system to hoist a 50-pound hose 25-five feet in the air, letting it back down using hand-over-hand technique to avoid a time penalty for letting the rope "slip." When the hose was safely on the ground again, applicants did a Heavy Equipment Carry, hauling a chainsaw and 45 pounds of flame-retardant foam solution for 200 feet, before going onto the next event.

Stage Four of the test required the most physical exertion as candidates ran with a 30-pound backpack for 150 feet, dropped the pack and sprinted back, then began pulling hoseline until they had again reached the 150-foot mark. They retrieved the backpack and went back to the "start" line once again, before pulling all 150 feet of the hose back, hand-over-hand. The final event was to cross a ten-foot balance beam, and by the time potential Explorers reached the end of the timed course, they were nearing their physical limits.

To conclude the day, three current Fire Explorers and three full-time Firefighters completed the course, with added challenges: all six wore full firefighting turnouts and fifty-pound airtanks while completing the agility test.

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